Multiple call-box



(No Model.)

I. B. WOOD. MULTIPLE CALL BOX- No. 446,199. Patented Feb. 10,1891.

'm: nuRms PETERS 2a., mom-Una) WASHINGTON, u c.

UNITE STATES ATENT TWICE,

FRANK B. \VOOD, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO THE BREWER & SMITHVISUAL SIGNAL COMPANY, OF NElV HAVEN, CONNECTICUT.

MULTIPLE CALL-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 446,199, dated February10, 1891..

Application filed January 6, 1890- Serial No. 336,084. (No model.)

To all whom, it Hwy concern.-

Be it known that I, FRANK B. \VOOD, of New York, in the county of NewYork and State of New York, have invented a new Im- 5 provement inMultiple Call-Boxes; and I do hereby declare the following, when takenin connection with accompanying drawings and the letters of referencemarked thereon,to be afull, clear, and exact description of the same,

IO and which said drawings constitute part of this specification, andrepresent, in-

Figure 1, a front view of myimproved multiple call-box with the dial andcrank re-' moved, and showing also one form of centralstation apparatusfor use with it. Fig. 2 is a detached view showing the positions of theswitch-finger and the switch when the crank is pulled down preparatoryto makingacall. Fig. 3 isa similar View showing the positions of theparts on the reverse movement of the signal-wheel. Fig. at is a detachedview of the mechanism for locking the train of the box in adjustment forperforming that duty. Fig. 5 is a view in front elevation, on a re- 2 5duced scale, of the dial and crank of the box. My invention relates toan improvement in multiple call-boxes, the object being to produce aninstrument adapted to send in only complete or entire calls, and togive, when it is operated, and without disturbing the central-stationapparatus, an audible test-signal for informing the person operating itthat there is a circuit over the line, and having a double adaptation toreceive return-signals 3 5 from the central station.

With these ends in view my invention consists in certain details ofconstruction and combinations of parts, as will be hereinafterdescribed, and pointed out in the claims.

As herein shown, the device is provided with an oscillatingswitch-finger A, secured to the projecting outer end of an arbor B,journaled in the frame-plates O and D of the instrument. A switch E,also secured to the said projecting end of the arbor B, formed from athin piece of flat sheet metal, is arrangedto stand at a right angle tothe said switch-finger A, with which it operates. The free and lower endof the said finger, which normally occupies an upright position, is

pointed for engagement with the periphery of the switching-hub F,located upon the outer face of and rotating with a signal-wheel G, whilethe outer and free end of the switch B, which normally stands in ahorizontal position, is arranged for engagement with a switchblock H,connected by a wire I with the box magnet J, which is itself connectedby awire- K to a binding-post L, insulated in theloase M of theinstrument. The periphery of the said switching-hub F is provided withan open restoring-notch N, into which the pointed end of theswitch-finger is normally entered, and with a series ofswitching-notches O, the remaining portion P of its periphery being leftplain or unnotched, for a purpose to be set forth later on. The saidrestoring-notch is made more open than the switching-notches, so as topermit the switch-finger to enter it at the end of a revolution of thewheel without carrying the same on beyond a full revolution,

as would be necessary if the said notch were not made more open or widerat its outer end than the other notches.

The periphery of the signal-wheel G is provided with a series ofnumbernotches Q, which will vary in n umber and arrangement in each box,with a long return-signal notch R, located at the rear end of thenumbernotches, and with a series of signal-notches S, which correspondto the switching-notches O in the switching-hub. The said notches uponthe peripheries of the switching-hub and the signal-wheel are arrangedso that when the wheel is in its normal position the switch finger willenter the open restoring-notch N in the switching-hub, which notchstands just in advance of the outer end of the long return-signal notchin the periphery of the signal-wheel, so that the plane surface P of theswitching-hub stands against the numbernotches of the signal-wheel, andso that the switching-notches O in the hub stand against thesignal-notches R in the signal-wheel.

A thin flat spring T, mounted in a post U, projecting forward from thefront frameplate O of the instrument, enters a lug V, formed in theupper end of the switch-finger, and exerts a constant tendency to throwthe pointed lower end thereof into the notches in I00 the switching-huband to disengage the outer end of the switch from the switch-block II. Aspring finge-r Vfforming acircuit-breaker and arranged for contact withthe periphery of the signal-wheel, is insulated from the instrumentby ablock X, secured to the front frame-plate thereof and connected bya wireY with the insulated binding-post L, before mentioned. 7

A long stop-lever Z, secured at its upper end to the oscillating arborB, is provided at its lower end with a transverse pivotal shoe or, heldin its normal position, in which. it

her endof th'e-shoe a is extended andprovided' with abevel c forengagementwitlr' a behtdockin-g-finger cl, attachedto the upperend-of"the'armature e of the'boX-magn'et J the saidar'maturebeingpivoted at its lower end-andprovided with a bell-hammer f, ar-

ranged to strike' a bell g, mounted upon a stud 72; seeuredtothecase Motthe instrument. A small-spring i, attached'to the armature e, isfprovided'fer holding the same normally away'from the poles of themagnet'J. The outer end of the pivotal shoe or is adapted for engagementwith the bent lower 'endof a locking-finger depending from the lowerendof 't'he pallet 'Zt,' working in the teeth of the "escapeme'nt -wheel1 of. the box-train which'in'cludes the main arbor m, to which thesignal '-'w-he'el G, andconsequently the switching-hub F, is rigidlyattachedl '-This train may be arranged in any approved Way, and;corresponding, asit does, to the ordinary train='of"aca'l'l-box, neednot be set forth in detait secondary switch is pivoted to the frontframe-plate O of the instrument in position fortheengagement of itsupwardly-extendin'g -arm W wit'h' the switch-block H, beforenientioned,and 'for the engagementof its do'vi'nwardly-extending arm 0by the beveled outerend of'a stop-arm p, extending radially outward fromthe hub q of the signal-wheel, and arranged with respect to the--notches in the periphery thereof so that as soon as in thesignalingrotation of the saidwheel the inneren'dof the return-signalnotch R has been brought under the spring-finger Wand the circuitbrokenin the instrument the arm will'engage with the beveled surface r of thesecondary switch'and-turn the same so as to carry its upper end a intoengagement with thes-witch block H, after which'the arm moves oh' intoengagement with the stop-pin s, mounted in-the front frame-plate O ofthe instrument. A light-spring t, mounted in a split 'stud u, securedto' the said nameplate, i'sf'engagedwith the lower end' 0 of thesecondary switch and exerts a constant effort todisengagethe'upper'end'the'reof from the switch-block H and to throw itslower end 0 into position for engagement by the beveled end of thestop-arm p.

The outer end of the main arbor m is pro vided w'itha combined crank andindicator -22, provided witha handle to and standing in front of a dialcc, forming a part of the instrument, and shown in reduced size in Fig.5 of the drawings, and provided upon its face with lettering andcharacters corresponding in arrangement to the arrangement of thesignal-notchesuponthe signal 'wheel and the switching-hub;

The central-station apparatus shown in connection .with Fig. 1 of thedrawings'is provided with a single-point keyy, normally engaged with acontact-point 2,conne'ct'ed by the line-wire 3 with the' insulatedbindingpost L of the box, the-said'wire 3'including the battery 4."Thecentral-station apparatus is also provided with-a double-pointkey-'5, connected by a'coiled wired-to the keyy and normally engagedwith acontact-point 7, connected by a wire 8 and a short wire 9 with thesingle-stroke end of the central-station magnet 10; which is connectedby a returnwire 11 of the main linewitha binding-post 12, mounted inthecase M ofthe -box' and connected by a small 'wire13 with the frontframe-plate O of the instrument." The other contact-point 14: of thesaid do'uble-pointkey 5, which is normally disengaged from it, isconnected by a'coile'd wire 15' with a spring 16,-in contact with thearmature 17 of the said central-station magnet 10 the upper end of thesaid armature being provided with a bell-hammer 18, arranged to-s'trikea bell-"19,

while-its lower end is provided with a spriug 20 and connected by a wire'21 with the'wire 9, before mentioned, leading intothe singlestrokeendof thesaidniagnet 10.

C Having now described-in detail the construction of myim'provedmultiple call-box and of acentral-station apparatus for useinconjunction with it,'I will proceed to setforth the mode of itsoperation and to explainthe paths of the circuits in the severalphasesthereof.

In the normal condition of the box its combined crank and indicatorstands in the position in which it is shown by Fig: 5 of the drawings.The switch-finger A'is entered into the switch restoring notch N of theswitching-hub F, the switch E'i's disengaged from the block H,'thespring-finger W 'isengaged with the periphery ofthe signal-wheel G at apoint adjacent to the outer end or the long return-signal-notchR, andthe secondary switch is retired, as shownby' Fig.1 of the drawings.Under these conditions the circuitis closed in the box'an'd through thesingle-point key of the stationapparatus. Then'now it is desired to senda signal, the handle'w of the crank 41 is grasped and the crankcarriedaround to theword "lest upon,

IIO

the dial ofthe box, whereby the signal-wheel andthe switchinghub arerotated with the arbor m, and the spring attached thereto is wound.Thedescribedmovementoftheswitching-hub operates to throw theswitch-fingerA and the switch E into the positions in which they areshown by Fig. 2 of the drawings, whereby the switch is engaged with theswitchblock H, and the box-magnet J is additionally cut into the circuitthrough the wire 1, connecting the switch-block H with the said magnet.The described rotation of the arbor also carries all of thenumber-notches Q in the signal-wheel beyond the spring-finger \V, sothat when the crank c is released and the arbor and wheel reverselyrotated under the action of the mainspring the number-notches will bepassed in the reverse direction under the spring-finger \V. Now in theforward and reverse rotation of the signal-wheel,during which the switchA is held in engagement with the switch block H by the surface P of theswitching-hub F, the circuit will be alternately through the finger whenin contact with the wheel and through the magnet J when thenumber-notches Qin the wheel pass under the said finger, so that thecircuit is never broken, but intermittently shunted through the magnet,which, when so energized, affects the ringing of the box-bell andinforms the person testing the box that there is a circuit over the lineleading to the central station. If the bell does not ring, the persontesting the box knows that there is no circuit over the line, and thesignal-wheel is stopped in its reverse rotation by the engagement of thestop-arm p with the stop-pin 8. Just before the said arm is engaged withthe saidpin the former operates the secondary switch and throws the armn thereof onto the switchblock; but this movement of the secondaryswitch has no significance in this phase of the operation of the box.The word Test is placed upon the dial to guide the person testing theline in turning the crank only enough to secure the test and not farenough to send a call into the central station in case the line is inworking order. To send in a simple call to the central station by meansof the boX, the crank is turned to the word Messenger, which occupiesthe next point on the dial beyond the word Test, before referred to. Ifnow during the forward movement of the crank the bell in the box doesnot ring, the person calling need not wait for a return-signal from thecentral station, as he will know from the failure of the bell to ringthat there is no circuit over the line; but if the bell does ring whenhe begins to turn the crank he will keep on and turn it until he hasbrought it opposite the word Messenger, the bell ringing all the time.Meanwhile this movement of.v the crank carries the blank surface P ofthe switching-hub F beyond the rangeof the switch-finger A and bringsthe first of the switching-notches in the switching-hubiunder the saidfinger, so that when the crank is released the finger will be shunted tothe left and the switch disengaged from the switch-block II, as shown byFig. 3 of the. drawings, whereby the magnet J is switched out of thecircuit. In the reverse movement of the signal-wheel that new resultsthe number-notches therein will be passed under the spring-finger \V andthe circuit over the main line interrupted. Beginning with the sprii1g'finger V, the circuit will now be through the.

same, the wire Y, the binding-post L, the wire 3, the battery 4:,thecontact-point 2, the sin glepoint key y, the coiled wire 6, thedoublepoint key 5, the contact-point 7, wire 8, the wire 9, the magnet10, the wire 11, the binding-post 12, the wire 18, the front frame-plateC of the instrument, and thence through the instrument to thesignal-wheel. The interruptions of this circuit as the number-notchesare carried under the spring-finger \V will cause the magnet at thecentral station to be energized in ringing the bell 19 thereat in exactaccordance with the number and arrangement of the number-notches in thesignal- .wheel, so that the number which the wheel represents will beaudibly reproduced at the central station. Just so soon as thenumbernotches in the signal-wheel have passed the springfinger V thesame drops into the long return-signal notches R therein and breaks theline-circuit, which, however, is immediately closed through the magnet-J by the secondary switch at, which is operated there by means of astop-arm p, which here has the switching function. \Vhen the magnet J isenergized, it attracts its armature & to it, and thus lifts thestop-finger d, carried by the upper end of the armature, with the effectof lifting the inner end of the pivotal shoe a, mounted in the lower endof the stop-lever Z, which was thrown over into the position in which itis shown by Fig. 4 of the drawings at the same time that the finger Aandthe switch E were thrown to the left, as shown by Fig. 3 of thedrawings. The elevation of the inner end of the pivotal shoe causes thedepression of the outer end thereof against the bent lower end of thestop-fingerj, depending from the pallet k, which is thus locked into theescapement-wheel, whereby the train of the call-box is stopped andlocked with the cranks standing against the letters R S, located onepoint on the dial to the right of the zero-point thereof. The call-boxis now in readiness to receive'a return-signal from the central station.If the signal received at the centralstation is a perfect signal, theoperator at that point presses down the doublepoint key 5 intoengagement with the contact-point 14, breaking its engagement with thecontact-point 7. Beginning with the contact-point 14:, the current will,now flow through the said contact-point, the wire 15, vibrating spring16, the armature 17 the wire 21, the wire 9, the magnet 10, the wire11,the binding-post 12,the wire 13, the front frame-plate O, the.signal-wheel G, the stop- ITO " thereby causing correspondinginterruptions in the magnet J, which will operate in rapidly vibratingits armature 'L, the stop-finger cl whereof will actuate the pivotalshoe a, in

operating the pallet 70, in intermittently looking and unlocking thetrain of the box through the escapement-wheel Z thereof, at the sametime ringing the bell g of the box with a Vibratory stroke, thus givinga definite and distinct signaL deuoting the receipt of a perfect call atthe central station. This action will continue until thelongreturn-signal notch R of the signal-wheel has passed beyond thespring-finger W, which so soon as it engages -with the wheel again willshort-circuit themagnet J, which will also be additionally switched outby the operation of the spring t upon the lower end of the secondaryswitch, -the arm 10 having passed out of the path of the switch. Theoperation of the train under the control of the vibrating current causesthe crank to move from the return-signal "point on the dial to thezero-point thereof,

bringing the open restoring-notch of the switching-hub directly underthe switchfi'nger, which is thrown into the said notch by the action ofthe spring T.

In case the signal has not been perfectly received, owing to animperfect adjustment or otherwise of the receiving apparatus-at thecentral station, the operator at the said station manipulates thesingle-point key y to simply break the line-circuit, thereby demagnetizing the magnet J, the armature '1; whereof will fall back andpermit the pivotal shoe a to release the pallet and permit the train ofthe box-to run until the stop-arm has been brought into engagementwiththe stoppin .9, at which time the crank will have been restored to itszero position and the open restoring-notch been brought under the fingerA. The failure of the bell to ring when the crankreturns from the return-signal point on the dial to the zero-point thereof will now indicateto the person operating the box that, although the circuit is perfectover the line, his call has not been perfectly received at the centralstation, and notifying him that he must repeat the call.

'I have now described the operation and action of the box for sendinginasimple call. Itsaction, however, will be the same for sending in any ofthe additional calls or signals,

which in this instance are shown to be six in number.

' It will be seen from the foregoing that the very act of making a callupon myimproved call-box secures a notification of the condition of thecircuit. If this notification is to the effect that there is no circuitover theline, the person calling need not wait for a response to hiscall. This feature of my improved box makes it much more convenient anddesirable than any box heretofore constructed, so faras I am aware. Thedescribed provision for preventing any but complete calls being sent inby my apparatus also avoids the confusion incident to the sending in ofincomplete or partial calls, as may occur with the ordinary call-boxeswhen not carefully operated. Furthermore, the adaptation of my improvedapparatus for securing two readily-distinguishable returnsignals at thebox facilitates the use of the apparatus and improves the resultssecured from it. It may be stated here that, if desired, the armature t'of the magnet J may be pivoted so as to sound one single stroke upon thebox-bell when the circuit through the magnet J is broken, so that whenthe return-signal for an imperfect call is made by operating thesingle-point key at the central-station apparatus a single stroke of thebell g at the box will be sounded; but the difference between one singlestroke upon the bell and a vibrating stroke thereupon is so sharp thatthe two signals on the bell can never be confounded.

It is apparent that in carrying out my invention some changes in theparticular construction herein shown and described may be made. I wouldtherefore have it understood that I hold myself at liberty to make suchalas fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent. is-

l. In a multiple call-box, the combination, with asignalwheel,of acircuit-breaker adapted to engage therewith, a magnet, a bell operatedthereby, and a switch co-operating with the signal-wheel and arranged insuch relation thereto that the rotation of the wheel in preparing tomake a call operates the switch to shunt the line-circuit through themagnet and its signaling or opposite rotation to switch themagnet out ofline, whereby the bell is sounded in preparing to make a call if thereis a circuit over the line, substantially as described.

2. In amultiple call-box, the combination, with a signal-wheel,ofacircuit-breaker adapted to engage therewith, a magnet, a bell operatedthereby, a notched switching-hub rotating in unison with the wheel,which, with the hub, is rotated in preparing to make a call, anoscillating finger adapted'to engage with the said hub, and a switchoperated by the said finger and connecting the wheeland magnetelectrically, the said finger being ar ranged in such relation to thehub as to operate the switch in shunting the line-circuit through themagnet in preparing to make a call, substantially as described.

3. In a multiple call-box, the combination,

with a signal-wheel, of a circuit-breaker adapt; ed to be engagedtherewith, a magnet, a bell operated thereby, a notched switching-hubrotating in unison with the signal-wheel, a switch finger adapted toengage with the notches of the said hub, so as to be moved thereby, aswitch partaking of the movements of the said finger, a switch-blockwith which the switch is engaged in one of the shunted positions of thesaid finger, electrical connection between the said block and themagnet, and means for rotating both the signal-wheel and switching-hubin preparing to make a call, the switch-finger being arranged in suchrelation to. the hub as to operate the switch in shunting theline-circuit through the magnet in preparing to make a call, whereby theline-circuit is not broken when the signalwheel is being rotatedpreparatory to making a call, but alternately shunted, substantially asdescribed.

4. In a multiple call-box, the combination, with a signal-wheel, of acircuit-breaker ad apted to be engaged thcrewitlua magnet, a belloperated thereby, a notched switching-hub arranged to rotate in unisonwith the wheel, a switch-finger adapted to be engaged with the notchesof the said hub, a switch partaking of the movements of the said finger,electrical connection between the magnet and the switch, a springco-operating with the said finger and eXert-inga constant tendency toengage it with the notches in the hub, and means for rotating the wheeland hub together in preparing to make a call,the finger and hub beingrelatively arranged so as to shunt the line-circuit through the magnetin the preliminary rotation of the hub and wheel, substantially asdescribed.

5. In a multiple call-box, the combination, with a signal-wheel, of acircuit-breaker adapted to engage therewith, a magnet, a bell operatedthereby, a switch co-operating with the wheel and arranged in suchrelation thereto as to shunt the line-circuit through the wheel inpreparing to make a call, a stop-arm rotating with the wheel, asecondary switch brought into action by the said arm for preparing thebox to receive a return-signal, and means for rotating the wheel inpreparing to make a call, substantially as described;

6. In a multiple call-box, the combination, with a signal-wheel, of acircuit-breaker adapted to be engaged therewith, a magnet, a notchedswitching-hub rotating in unison with the wheel, a switch-finger adaptedto be engaged with the notches of the said hub which shifts it, a switchpartaking of the movements of the said finger, a stop-arm rotating inunison with the signal-wheel, a secondary switch operated by the stoparm in preparing the box to receive a return-signal, and connectionsbetween the said switches and the magnet, substantially as set forth.

'7. In a multiple call-box, the combination,

with a signal-wheel, of a circuit-breaker adapted to be engagedtherewith,a notched switchin g-hub rotat in gin unison with the saidwheel, a switch-finger adapted to be engaged with the notches of the hubwhich shifts it, a switch partaking of the movements of the said finger,a stop-lever also partaking of the movements of the said finger, amagnet provided wheel, a switch-finger adapted to be engaged with thenotches of the hub which shifts it, a switch partaking of the movementsof the said finger, a stop-lever also partaking of the movements of thesaid finger, a magnet provided with an armature, 'a train provided withan escapement-pallet, a pivotal shoe mounted in the lower end of thestop-lever, and two locking-fingers respectively carried by theescapement-pallet and by the magnetarmatu re, the said shoe andstop-fingers forming a locking mechanism which is brought into actionfor locking the train when the said magnet is energized, substantiallyas set forth.

9. In a multiple call-box, the combination, with a signal-wheel, of acircuit-breaker adapted to be engagedtherewith, a switching-hub rotatingin unison with the wheel and provided with a plane surface and with aseries of switching-notches corresponding to the signal-notches in thesignal-wheel, the notch at one end of the series of notches in theswitching-hub being made more open than the others, a switch-fingeradapted to engage with the switching-hub and the notches therein anddropping readily into the said open notch thereof, a switchpartaking ofthe movements of the said finger, and a magnet and connection betweenthe switch and the magnet, the circuitthrongh theline beingshuntedthrough the magnet from the circuit-breaker when the signal-wheel isoperated preparatory to makin g a call, substantially as set forth.

10. A multiple call-box having a signalwheel provided with a long returnsignal notch located at one end of its numbernotches, a secondary switchbrought into action by the box just before the same is stopped, andalocking mechanism for arresting the train of the box, controlled by thesaid secondary switch, in c mbinat-ion with a central-station apparatushaving a magnet, a singlepoint key for making a prolonged interruptionof the current through the magnet, and

a double-point key for making an intermit tent or vibratory interruptionof the current, substantially as set forth.

11. In a multiple call-box, the combination,

with a signal wheel, of a circuit breaker adapted to be engagedtherewith, a switching-hub having its periphery notched to correspond tothe signal-notches in the said wheel,a switchfinger mounted upon anarbor journaled in the frame-plates of the box and adapted to be engagedwith the notches in the said hub, a switch also mounted upon the saidarbor, a switch-block located for engagement with the said switch whenthe switch-finger is shifted. by the hub, a magnet having its armatureprovided with a stop-finger, connection between the said switch-blockand magnet, a stop-lever also secured to the said arbor and provided. atits lower end with a transverse shoe, a train the escapelnent-palletwhereof is provided with a stop-finger which co-opcrates with the saidshoe and the stop-finger of ,K

FRANK B. \VOOD. \Vitn esses:

FRED O. EARLE, GEORGE D. SEYMOUR.

